Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2)

by Victoria Renteria

  “More . . .” I purr, digging my nails into his back.

  Alex’s muscles bunch and flex as he thrusts harder, deeper into my slick heat. Moaning, my lips part on a breathy sigh. Running his fingers along the length of my sides, he gently caresses a path along the swell of my breasts, swirling around my nipple then trails up to my neck. Cupping the back of my neck, he brings our mouths together, intertwining them in a passionate embrace. Little sparks of electricity shoot through my body straight to my core as need and desire come crashing together.

  “Oh God, Alex. Please, don’t stop,” I moan, threading my fingers into the tendrils of his hair.

  “Ahhh, you’re so fucking tight, baby,” Alex groans.

  Pulling back all the way, he thrusts in to the hilt, bottoming out. Tiny ripples of pain and pleasure rocket through my core. All of my senses take flight with each violent lunge. Alex sits up and grips my hips firmly, lifting them off the bed, creating a bold new angle that plunges him deeper with every forward lunge. Violently thrusting my hips forward, I meet him in a passionate collision, a race toward the finish to our blissful peak. Slipping a hand down my sweat drenched midriff, I quickly find my clit, circling it viciously.

  “Ahh, fuck. That’s the hottest thing I’ve ever fucking seen. I’m gonna come, baby. I can’t hold back,” Alex snaps his hips forward, furiously pummeling my slick heat with his rock hard cock.

  Groaning, Alex’s muscles tense as he loses control, his face contorting in blissful rapture. His thick release coating my insides is all it takes to set off my own ferocious explosion. Letting out a deep, gratifying sigh, he rolls off me with a grunt and drags me to his chest.

  “I love you,” he whispers into my hair.

  “I love you, too,” I say, smiling into his chest.

  “Get dressed. Let’s grab a bite to eat. You should probably call your dad and tell him you said yes.”

  My eyes grow huge. He talked to dad? “You asked him first?”

  Smirking, he replies, “Well, yeah. That is kind of how it goes. Now get up.” Shoving me off his chest, he smacks my ass.

  “Ow.” I mockingly glare at him.

  Sliding on his jeans and a t-shirt, he smiles. “Whatever. You know you liked it. Now get up and meet me downstairs in fifteen or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “I guess you’ll have to find out . . .” His heated gaze roams over my naked body. Winking, he strides down the stairs out of view.

  What am I going to do with that man? Throwing my head back on the pillow, I glance at the diamond on my finger. This is more than I could have ever hoped for in this messed up thing I call a life.

  “Kylee?” Alex calls.

  “Yeah?”

  “Get down here now.”

  “Uh, okay. I’m coming. Is everything okay?”

  “Hurry up, babe.” The tension radiating from Alex’s voice can be felt upstairs. Leaping from the bed, I quickly get dressed and sprint down the stairs, only to come to a halt, freezing when I see the woman standing in the middle of the living room.

  Alex turns, tension lining his features as he says, “You have a visitor.”

  “Nari, what are you doing here? How did you even find me?”

  My brows crease with confusion. Alex saunters up to me, circling his arms around me, surrounding me with his essence. His presence calms the raging anxiety that I hadn’t realized was present.

  “I was able to slip away. I don’t have much time. I have to speak with you. You have to listen.” Her voice is rushed, a touch of panic edging into it that I’ve never heard before.

  Alex stiffens, his arms tensing around me. Placing my hands over his, I rub my thumb soothingly over the back of his hand, hoping to quell some of his discomfort.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “Your mother, she was mortally wounded during your rescue. She will not survive much longer.” She pauses for a moment, gauging my reaction.

  Unnamable emotions swell, rising inside of me. Swallowing back the bitter emotions, I gaze into her unwavering eyes and say, “I don’t really see what that has to do with me.”

  Nari discharges an irritated growl. “Sang-Hyun has taken over temporary control. He is a madman! The girls are being abused at Madame Lin’s hand. They’re beaten and malnourished. I would think you of all people would understand what that is like.”

  “Now look here, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are . . .” Alex steps forward.

  “No, it’s all right,” I cut him off. “Nari, I don’t know what you expect me to do about this. It really has nothing to do with me.”

  Nari angrily steps forward. She points a finger at my chest as she growls, “It has everything to do with you. You are one of the five. You are a rightful heir. With her death, you can step in, and there is nothing anyone can say. You can make a difference, Kylee. Help make a change from the inside.”

  “Me?” I ask incredulously.

  “Yes, you won’t be contested. I guarantee she would rather you take her place than Sang-Hyun, anyway. But even if she didn’t, he couldn’t challenge you. You are a blood heir; you are bound by your blood ties to the family. One of the five thrones of the Kkangpae was always destined to be yours. Please, Kylee. I can’t do this without you.” Nari’s big brown eyes silently plead, filling in everything that her words were not able to say.

  Alex’s rigid silence is enough to send ice careening through my veins. Would he come with me? Would he drop everything, leave it all behind to help me take down an evil empire? Seek vengeance for our unborn child? For Noah?

  Nari’s voice breaks into my reverie. “I must go. They will notice my absence if I’m gone much longer. You know what you must do. I pray you make the right decision.” Without so much as a goodbye, she turns, exiting the apartment.

  When the door closes, I turn, looking at Alex’s icy stare. He’s glaring a hole into the wall on the opposite side of the room.

  “Alex.”

  “No.” His angry tone causes me to flinch. He has to listen to me. He really needs to hear me out.

  “Alex,” I say again.

  Ignoring me, he turns, striding toward the door. Panic takes over as a knot settles deep in my stomach. My thoughts buzz, swirling around in my head. I don’t want to do this alone. I would much rather do it with the man I love by my side. He makes me stronger. Together we are a formidable force, one to be reckoned with. But, it would seem fate has other plans. Fate . . . you cruel bitch. You’re at it again.

  “ALEX! ALEX, DON’T YOU WALK away from me, goddammit!”

  Tension infuses my spine as I stand with my back rigidly to her, great heaving breaths huffing from my lungs. Anger surges through me like waves crashing on the shore. How can she do this? Why would she put this on us? Fuck that. Why would she do this to me?

  My fingers curl into a ball, the need to pummel something growing like a toxic weed. A faint touch registers somewhere deep in my mind as the poisonous thoughts continue to flow. The flames of rage wither like the dying embers of a fire as her graceful fingers curl delicately around my wrist.

  A faint tremor enters my voice, making it waver as I growl, “You really shouldn’t do that right now, Goddess.”

  “I really should,” she counters.

  “What do you want from me, Kylee?” I say, heaving a defeated sigh.

  “Just an opportunity to explain why. That’s all, Alex. I just need you to hear me out. That’s how this works. One talks, the other listens, then we switch. It’s called communication.”

  “I don’t know if I can,” I whisper, my shoulders sagging in defeat.

  “You once told me that it was you and me forever. That nothing I said would change that. Are you telling me you’re a liar?”

  I stiffen at her words, the tension palpable in the air.

  “No, I didn’t lie.”

  “Then give us a chance. Please don’t walk out on me. I love you,” she fiercely whispers.

  Some of the tension drains
from my body with her admission. The depth of my love for this woman knows no bounds. But, fuck me, I swear she’s trying to kill me. This time, she’s going to put herself in harm’s way. I can see it in her eyes. I can see the emotion, the decision already made swirling behind her opulent gaze. How can she expect me to let her walk out that door? To walk blindly into danger unprotected? What about us? Fuck, she agreed to marry me less than half an hour ago. Where does that leave us . . . our future?

  “I’m not sure what you expect me to do. It would seem you already have your mind made up.”

  “So that’s it? You just give up? Walk away? Throw everything we have out the window without so much as a backward glance?” she accuses. The hurt expression on her face causes a dull, heavy ache to build in my chest.

  Running a hand through my hair, I gaze out the window. “No, the last thing I want to do is walk away,” I mumble.

  “Then at least we agree on something.”

  “Dammit, Kylee. This is fucking stupid. Do you realize that? It’s goddamned mental is what it is.” An intense, throbbing pain scatters, distributing throughout my jaw. Rolling my neck from side to side, I unclench my jaw and turn my frustrated gaze on her.

  “I realize that you may not understand why I need to do this, but I would ask that you at least respect my decision.” Her eyes shine with unshed tears, the riotous emotion behind them fighting to the surface.

  “Goddess . . .” I close the distance, wanting to take away the pain I’ve so clearly caused.

  “No, Alex. Don’t.” She holds out her hand, stopping me from moving any closer.

  “Tell me why. I need to understand,” I plead.

  She lets out a watery sigh. “Alex, those women are horribly abused. I can’t even tell you the atrocities they go through on a daily basis. What if my being present could change that? What if I could make a difference?”

  “I understand the need to make a difference, baby. More than anyone. Hell, it’s why I chose my line of work. But, damn, do you really need to put yourself in the middle of it all?”

  “They need me, Alex,” she says. Closing the distance between us, she places a hand on my arm.

  “I need you,” I whisper brokenly.

  “And I you, which is why you should come with me.”

  “Kyleeeee,” I groan. Her piercing brown eyes stare at me unwaveringly for several long moments, waiting, willing me to answer her.

  “Kylee, how exactly do you propose I go with you, huh? I’m an elite operative in the United States Army. It’s not something I can just walk away from.” She pulls her hand away from my arm.

  “Are you saying you won’t go?”

  “Yes. No. Fuck! I don’t know what I’m saying.”

  Her big brown eyes well with tears as she nods at me in understanding. Delicate arms circle me, drawing me into her as she hugs my waist. The dull, heavy feeling in my chest builds as my heart jumps into my throat. My stomach does nervous flips as she desperately holds me to her breast. Sorrow invades my thoughts, filling me completely as I embrace my Goddess. I love her so damn much. Can’t she see I just want her safe?

  Voicing my concerns, I whisper them into her hair. “Baby, I just need you safe. Always safe, and with me. I love you so much.”

  Kylee sniffles, burying her face into my chest, inhaling deeply several times.

  My heart lurches, the thought of losing her again sends me into a vicious, downward spiral. Reluctantly, she pulls back, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Rising up on her toes, she presses her lips against mine, her warmth shooing the darkness of my thoughts away momentarily. Her tongue sweeps against my lips, seeking entrance. Parting on a sigh, she delves in with long, languorous strokes. This kiss isn’t sweet or one of passion; it’s one of desperate need.

  It’s a kiss that’s given as if it were your last. Extracting herself, she releases me, stepping back.

  “Kylee,” I whisper, reaching out.

  “No.” She shakes her head and takes another step toward the door.

  “Baby?” My voice is pained.

  “Y-You need time to think, Alex. To decide what is best for you. Know that I understand and don’t blame you no matter what you decide. I will always love you, now and forever. You will always be the love of my life. And when the time is right, when you choose, I’ll be there. Waiting.” Slipping the ring off her finger, she places it on the table and strides to the door without a backward glance.

  Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion of Alex and Kylee’s story Royal Blood coming Fall of 2016.

  To my wonderful husband and son, who’ve managed to be patient with me during this incredible journey. Thank you. I truly could not have done this without you. You are my world and I’m so glad you’re taking this ride with me.

  My darling sister Yazi thank you for always listening, and being my cheerleader when no one else was. I will be eternally grateful for you always. To my parents who supported me on this journey thank you so much. Your love and continued support means so much.

  Clara Fox you have been the best friend a girl could have ever asked for. Those face-time chats really keep me going! My heart bursts with love every time my phone rings and your smiling face is there to greet me. Those all day sprints and check-ins. Man, there wouldn’t be a Bound By Blood with out you!

  Gabbie S. Duran without you I would go insane. Thank you for being my mentor guiding me through this process, and most of all thank you for being my friend. Tara and Barb your text messages daily keep a smile on my face when I want to stop functioning at times. I love you more than words ladies.

  Rebecca Marie. Our chats have kept me going on days that I didn’t even want to get out of bed! Thank you for all of the messages that make me smile. You truly are a blessing.

  To my wonderful team, my beta’s, my editor Edee M. Fallon, my cover designer Rebecca Marie, my formatter Stacey Blake, my promotional crew at Once Upon An Alpha run by Shannon Hunt and her crew and my street team. Without you I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Last but not least, to all of the readers, and bloggers who took the time to read Bound By Blood. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Former Director for a major corporation Victoria has spent most of her life inside of a book. When she wasn’t reading she was busy scribbling down stories of her own. Meeting her husband while he was in the United States Army, Victoria quickly adapted and learned the role of the military spouse.

  After finishing her Business Management Degree in college she spent years working in the corporate world where her writing quickly fell to the wayside.

  Finally, taking time away from the corporate world Victoria has been able to dive into her stories and create a whole new world for you to live in. She now resides in the sunny Tampa, Florida area with her husband, son, and two amazing boxers. When she isn’t writing you can find her on the beach or hiking. Maybe even writing on the beach . . .

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  Other Books

  Betrayed by Blood